Ramirez, 22, of Hanover Avenue in Allentown, was sentenced to one to two years in the county jail, followed by two years of probation. He told Dantos that he regretted causing the April 28, 2013, crash that killed Juan Oquendo Mota.

"I feel so ashamed and so empty. There are times when I can't look my aunt in the eye," he said.

Ramirez pleaded guilty in November to vehicular homicide and drunken driving. He admitted that he had consumed at least five beers and one shot of liquor at a party before driving on South Fourth Street in Allentown with his cousin and another man in his car.

Police determined that he was traveling at approximately 75 mph in a 40 mph zone around 3 a.m. when his car collided with another near the Sunrise Diner.

The impact sent Oquendo Mota, who was in the back seat, flying out of the vehicle. He hit a street sign and died.

A front-seat passenger, Randy Robertson, 20, hit the windshield and suffered minor injuries. He did not attend the hearing.

Ramirez was arrested following a lengthy investigation. Tests showed that he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.03 percent, police said. The alcohol level was within the legal limit for drivers 21 and older, but Ramirez was 20 at the time, so he was also charged with drunken driving.

In court Wednesday, Ramirez's parents stood with his aunt and pleaded with the judge to spare him a jail sentence. Linda Oquendo told Dantos that Ramirez and her son were best friends, and that the family would only suffer more pain if Ramirez was sent away.

The judge told the aunt that Ramirez had to face consequences for breaking the law.

"I'm very sorry that you lost your son, but this was more than an accident. This was a criminal act. Not only was he drinking, but he was exceeding the speed limit … he was going faster on a residential street than you're permitted to drive on a highway," Dantos said. "People forget that cars are deadly weapons."

Chief Deputy District Attorney V. Paul Bernadino called the crash "scary," and recounted his interview with Robertson, the other passenger who was injured in the crash. The prosecutor said Robertson recalled Ramirez saying "one more time" as the traffic light turned green just before the collision.

"When he heard that he got scared and put his seat belt on," Bernadino. "So the defendant had been driving like that before this happened."

Ramirez has no prior record. His attorney, Richard Kolosky, asked the judge to grant Ramirez work release privileges. The judge said she would consider the request after Ramirez served at least three months behind bars.

As part of the sentence, Dantos ordered Ramirez to complete 100 hours of community service. He also was fined $500 for underage drinking.